Scouting Kaneland at Huntley

Kaneland (1-0) at Huntley (0-1)

Game time: 7:15 p.m. Friday

Last year: Huntley 17, Kaneland 14.

Last week: Kaneland 37, Burlington Central 22; Wauconda 44, Huntley 34.

Outlook: Kaneland quarterback Joe Camiliere threw for 319 yards and 2 touchdowns in the program's first game against Huntley, but it was the one time he could be called off his game. All 3 of his 2009 interceptions came then, and he also fumbled in a game decided by a field goal. "They had good pressure from the defensive line," Knights coach Tom Fedderly recalled. "I think that had something to do with it." Huntley graduated main baddie Marcus Popenfoose but returns quarterback Tim Lycos, who ran and passed for a touchdown against Kaneland. Against Wauconda Lycos ran for 96 yards and 2 touchdowns and threw for 143 yards and 3 touchdowns. "I'm sure you're going to see some option, you're going to see that kid boot out and run," Fedderly said. The coach saw it all last week. "I was happy with our defense in the first half and I was happy with our offense in the second half," he said. The Knights led 16-0 at halftime but dropped several passes, though defensive tackle Jimmy Boyle was credited with a safety on a snap out of Burlington Central's end zone. In the fourth quarter Kaneland scored 21 points, handy since Burlington scored all its points in the second half. Overall Fedderly was impressed in particular by two-way lineman Ben Kovalick and Kyle Davidson, who picked off a pass and scored on an 11-yard catch, one of Camiliere's 3 touchdown strikes to go with a 1-yard touchdown run. Now they shoot for retribution, and Kaneland's first 2-0 start since 2006. "We keep telling our kids, if you're a veteran group, you've got to go out on the road and get a big win," Fedderly said. First-year Huntley coach Matt Gehrig knows his team has to play better defense against Kaneland's high-powered offense. "They've got a lot of big strong kids," Gehrig said of the Knights. "They look good. We've made some adjustments and we think our kids have a full understanding of the scouting report." Gehrig knows what his team needs to do to stop Kaneland, but it's easier said than done. "The big thing with them is they go from a shotgun double-wing into a true spread with 4-5 wide receivers and they make it to0ugh on defenses to adjust to. They can do so many different things in their offense. There's a lot to shut down." Gehrig was pleased overall with his team's offensive play against Wauconda. "We did a few good things offensively," he said. "We just gotta make sure we keep our timing. We've made some adjustments on our Week 1 mistakes."

Next week: Dixon (0-1) at Kaneland, Sept. 10; Huntley at Woodstock North (0-1), Sept. 10.